Lixiviation
The process of extracting alkaline salts from ashes by pouring water on them.
Loadstone, or natural magnet, is a species of iron ore found in many parts of the earth. Its property of attracting small pieces of iron was known to the Greeks at an early date, and the Chinese have been acquainted with its wonderful directive power from very remote ages. When this wonderful ore has been carefully examined, it is found that some points possess greater magnetic force than others. The attractive points are the poles of the magnet, which, if rubbed in a particular manner on a hardened steel bar, its characteristic properties will be communicated to the bar, which will then attract fillings like itself; particularly is this the case with the two ends of the bar. The bar is then said to be magnetized. For general purposes these bars are bent in the form of a horseshoe, which admits of the two poles being brought into contact with the object to be lifted. See MAGNET.